3 Things You NEED TO KNOW About Texas' RB Room | Longhorns Football | Steve Sarkisian

Summary

On Texas Football – "3 Things You NEED TO KNOW About Texas' RB Room"

Host: Jeff Howe
Guests/Analysts: CJ Vogel, Hank South
Date: August 11, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this episode of On Texas Football, Jeff Howe, CJ Vogel, and Hank South break down the three most important things Texas fans need to know about the Longhorns’ running back (RB) room heading into the 2026 season. Building off comments from head coach Steve Sarkisian and new RB coach Jabar Jaluke, the discussion examines physicality, depth, roles for key players (notably freshman Derrick Cooper), and the improved versatility and schematic options for the backfield.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

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1. Physicality: The RB Room’s Mandate

Timestamp: 01:20 – 07:18

• Sarkisian’s Emphasis: Physicality is the defining trait expected from Texas RBs—not just as runners but in pass protection and overall offensive contribution.
  • Coach Sarkeesian (02:01):

    “You see it in pass protection. ...They've got to run with a real sense of physicality, especially in our team run periods. Today we ran 16 straight runs, no passes. ...We want to be able to be a team that can run the football when you know we're going to run it.”

• CJ Vogel & Hank South Analysis:
  • Physical grit is often "something you either have or you don’t," and Derrick Cooper has already been singled out for stepping up in this area, even as a freshman (03:02).
  • Texas is aiming not just for speed and elusiveness, but for RBs who can move the pile, protect the quarterback, and perform in tough, predictable run situations.
• Context from Last Season:
  • The Longhorns' run game was inconsistent in 2025, often leaving too much on Arch Manning’s arm. When the running game succeeded, so did the overall offense (04:41).
  • Personnel changes (adding relievers like Relique Brown and Hollywood Smothers, and bringing in Cooper) and the hiring of Jaluke were designed to reboot this aspect.

Notable Quote:
Sports Analyst 1, on change in attitude (04:41):

"Last year's run game was almost nonexistent at times... Now they have the personnel to do it."

Jabar Jaluke’s Approach:

• Known for demanding "the most violent runners in the country" (05:48).
• Position coaches shape room culture and attitude, and this group's identity is noticeably different this year.

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2. Derrick Cooper: Freshman Ready for a Big Role

Timestamp: 07:18 – 10:45

• Sarkisian’s Trust in Freshman RBs:
  • Sarkeesian is not hesitant to play freshmen if they can handle it. Derrick Cooper is already being "heavily involved" in practice, and observers expect significant touches for him (07:18).
  • Cooper’s high school background—playing both RB and linebacker—means he's physical and versatile; his quick progression in pass protection is notable (07:51).
  • As a South Florida native, Cooper is regarded as having faced elite competition before arriving at Texas, flattening his learning curve.
• Role Diversity:
  • While many expect Cooper to be the short-yardage/inside zone back, stats suggest Relique Brown may actually be Texas's most effective short-yardage RB. Brown converted 82% of attempts needing 3 yards or fewer last year (09:36).
  • Hank South (09:36):

    "Relique Brown was 22 of 27: that's an 82% conversion clip ... Relique Brown, again, not the most physically imposing but that 22 of 27 rate certainly stands out."

• Importance of Multiple Options:
  • The committee approach gives Texas options, which benefits both the offense and Arch Manning's health.

Notable Quote:
Jeff Howe (10:45):

“If you've got multiple options to keep Arch in bubble wrap... it's going to be really good for the long-term health of this offense, the running game, the program, and the ceiling of this team in 2026.”

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3. Depth and Versatility: Improved Room from Top to Bottom

Timestamp: 14:34 – 21:36

• Sarkisian on Depth:
  • The entire room is “better than they were before,” with even deeper options showing real progress (14:42).
  • Coach Sarkeesian (14:42):

    “All of those guys have been better than they were before... we’re more comfortable today with that entire room than probably we've been in years past.”

• Developing Depth:
  • Michael Terry III: Former WR, now RB, praised for his adaptation and versatility (may play a 'pony package' multi-role, see 15:53–17:41).
  • James Simon: A coach’s son, sticking through the depth chart, showing reliability.
  • Both are examples of players who could have left via the portal but have stuck around and earned coach trust.
  • Sports Analyst 1 on Michael Terry III (17:41):

    “He offers so much more... he was doing everything for their offense in the game... you’ve got to credit him for hanging around and seeing what can come of this.”

  • Ryan Niblett and Jet Walker: Highlighted for their athletic background and roles last year; more depth means more flexibility and security if injuries strike.
• Unpredictability and Schematic Flex:
  • Analysts emphasize that Texas now has legitimate variety—not just in skillsets, but in the capacity to be unpredictable.
  • Past seasons saw “predictable” playcalls based on RB personnel; this year, packages like “pony” (two-back sets) could be used frequently, leveraging multiple players' pass-catching ability (20:21).
  • Both Hollywood Smothers and Relique Brown had ~40 targets and >30 receptions last season, adding to passing-game versatility.

Notable Quotes:

• Coach Sarkeesian (14:42):

  “I’ve been here, knock on wood, where I’ve been sitting here... and next thing you know, you’re playing with guys you weren’t anticipating. So we’re developing all those guys and we’re pushing all those guys.”

• Hank South (21:20):

  “When one body is on the field, it's not predictable... Texas is versatile in that regard this year.”

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Memorable Moments & Notable Quotes

• Jabar Jaluke’s “Non-Negotiables” (05:48):

  “He wants the Texas backs, his running backs, to be the most violent runners in the country.”

• On Depth & Retention (17:41):

  “You’ve got to credit him [Michael Terry III] for hanging around and seeing what can come of this. ...He was doing everything for their offense in the game.”

• On Versatility (20:21):

  “The biggest thing this year is... it’s not predictable. ...You knew one or two things was going to happen and one or two things probably was certainly not going to happen. ...This year, Texas is versatile in that regard.”

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Important Timestamps

• 01:20 – 07:18: Discussion of physicality mandate, Jabar Jaluke’s influence, necessity of tough runners.
• 07:18 – 10:45: Derrick Cooper’s emergence and how roles might shake out for Cooper, Brown, and Smothers.
• 14:34 – 21:36: In-depth look at depth pieces (Terry, Simon, Niblett), unpredictability, pony package potential, and the shift toward a more versatile and deep RB room.

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Conclusion

The overarching message: Texas’ running back room is deeper, more versatile, and more physical than at any point in recent seasons. Derek Cooper is emerging as a difference-maker even as a freshman, while position coach Jabar Jaluke has instilled a tougher, more violent running style. Transfer additions and returning talent mean meaningful schematic variety, reducing predictability and offensive pressure on QB Arch Manning. The “pony package” and passing ability of backs like Relique Brown and Hollywood Smothers give Texas the ability to adapt and excel, even in an extended, injury-prone season.

Jeff Howe’s closing (21:36):

“Definitely the arrow seems to be pointing up for Texas in the backfield.”

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For more Longhorns insights, practice updates, and in-depth roster discussions, subscribe to On Texas Football and visit ontexasfootball.com.

Transcript

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[Jeff Howe]

what three things do you need to know about the running back position at Texas so far in camp? We'll talk about it on this latest edition of On Texas Football, brought to you by Prize Picks and Poncho. I am Jeff Howe, joined by CJ Vogel and Hank South. Guys, the three of us were at Sark's post practice press conference. That's a mouthful. On Monday, after the Longhorns wrapped up their latest session, a lot of talk about physicality and a lot of talk about the running backs. And that for me guys is thing number one. I'll let Sark break it down, but it's the running max owning their part of physicality not just in the run game, but within the offense overall. Howard Religion Hollywood showing you some of that.

[Hank South]

We all see the speed.

[Coach Sarkeesian]

Well, you see it in pass protection. You know, I mean, we got it. We got plenty of blitzes, you know, and they got to step up and fit these guys up and pass pro. There's a, there's a, you know, you guys see the T shirts? No thud, no play. And so, you know, they've got to run with a Real sense of physicality, especially in our team run periods. I mean, Today we ran 16 straight runs, no passes. And so, you know, we want to be able to be a team that can run the football when, you know, we're going to run it and. And finding ways to run it. And that's running through down safeties who are unblocked, doing those things. And so I'm seeing that from them, that they're having the ability to do that.

[Jeff Howe]

So, C.J. you heard it there from Sark talking about pass protection, talking about just wanting to get back to being physical. And I think it goes back to when I talk about the running backs doing their part. Not every play is going to be blocked perfectly. As a wise man once told me, at some point, running backs got to go be an athlete. Whether that's making somebody miss running somebody over, it's making sure you've got a stable of backs that can do their part. And at least. At least that running back group, CJ has been tested to this point camp on that.

[Hank South]

Yeah, they certainly are. And I go back to even in the spring when we heard Kyle Flood talk specifically about Derek Cooper and how the pass protection side of things wasn't too big for him that quickly into his Texas career. Of course, very encouraging. But for. For any freshman back to kind of shoulder the burden of having to block or chip on a Colin Simmons or a Lance Jackson or even just help out on the interior, that's not an easy thing to do. Physicality is something that you either have or you don't. Right. It's very difficult to learn and really adjust and say, I want to go hit other grown men time and time again. But at the running back position, it certainly sounds like right now that's one of the calling, calling traits, if you will, for Derek Cooper. Now, again, Raleigh Brown, Hollywood Smothers. I'm not saying that they're bad pass protectors or they're lacking physicality, but to have that singled out about Derek Cooper, I think that's one of the easiest ways that you can say, okay, there's the path to the field for the freshman in the crowded room.

[Jeff Howe]

Yeah, we'll talk about Derek Cooper here in just a minute. But, Hank, this. This is something in Texas that goes all the way back to kind of the later years under Mack Brown. And it kind of set off alarm bells when Sark said it on Monday along the lines of, we want to be able to run the ball when we have to run the ball, when everybody knows we have to run the ball. And as good as the running game has been at times under Sark, that's something Hank they really haven't had consistently. And again, it's about the running back group doing their part that, making sure they own the physicality part of it. And hey, sometimes I again, things are going to be nasty, it's going to be messy. You just sometimes have to just put your head down and get what you can get.

[Sports Analyst 1]

Yeah, that line he said yesterday about running, wanting to run the ball when they know it's coming. I thought that was really telling. And now they have the personnel to do it. I mean you look back at the last few years, I mean last year's run game was almost non existent at times. Like they couldn't get anything going. They really had to rely on Arch places like Georgia. They had to really rely on Arch Banning's arm. Receivers were dropping passes. They didn't have a run game to fall back on. And the games where they, they really showed up and, and, and had a lot of success and were able to do whatever they wanted to do. Texas A and M in the second half, especially Oklahoma game, the run game was carrying them and, and so you know, they went out with, with a goal in the, in the portal to add personnel that can get them there and they did just that with Raleigh Brown and Hollywood Smothers and, and obviously bringing in Derek Cooper as a true freshman. But I, I just think, you know, the, the, it's going to be a night and day difference, this rushing attack and they got a new running backs coach on top of that with Jabar Jaluk and it's really going to take a lot of pressure off Arch Manning and give Steve Sarkeesian more creative ways to move the ball downfield. Just, just simply with the personnel they have brought in and, and what we've heard so far in camp about what they're doing.

[Jeff Howe]

Yeah, C.J. we'll stick on that real quick because Hank brought up Jabarja Luke and I don't want to, you know, I, I don't want to make it sound like a running backs coach hire is reinventing the wheel or kind of reinventing your identity offensively. But when you hear Jabar Jaluke talk about his non negotiables at the position, he said he wants the Texas backs, his running backs to be the most violent runners in the country. There's just a different degree of demand. CJ for physicality and toughness that I don't know if it's been there as much as it's needed to be at that position.

[Hank South]

Yeah, certainly. Well go look at what he was able to do with that. Florida running running a running back room.

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[Hank South]

I know Jaden Ball physically is a little bit different than what Texas has currently with Hollywood Smothers and Raleigh Brown, but they certainly packed own punch when it came to playing physical running physically getting to the outside and extending extending rush attempts. So that's something that I look at and say if it carries over just in the slightest, Texas will greatly benefit compared to what they had on the field consistently over the last two years, which didn't feel like a lot unless they were playing A and M surprisingly. So that's something I look at and of course it's coach speak more or less but you, you hear about teams take on the personality of their head coach but position rooms take on the personality of their position coach. That's something else to watch over the next three weeks of fall campus. Does that really kind of seep into that running back room? Is that Jabar Jaluk intensity the same way that Tashar choice made an impact with the Texas running back room?

[Jeff Howe]

No doubt. Hank, let's go to thing number two. Sark was asked about guys that are bringing it. They're bringing the intensity, the physicality the way he wants. He singled out Derek Cooper in the running back room. Thing number two to know about the running back position. Derek Cooper is going to be heavily involved in this running game in terms of touches carries. We'll see. But Hank Sark has shown before he's not afraid to put freshman running backs on the field. You go back to 20, 23, I don't know if people remember CJ Baxter actually started the year as RB1 ahead of Jonathan Brooks. So Hank, I don't think it's a matter of if Derek Cooper's going to have a role. It's what's the role going to be and how big can it get get.

[Sports Analyst 1]

Yeah and I think they have options. I mean obviously we saw him have success in that spring showcase back in April from the running back position. And, and my biggest thing with Derek Cooper is is is look at where he he's coming from. I mean if you want to find skill players or, or guys that just kind of have that that it factor you go to South Florida. In my opinion from covering recruiting for for 10 plus years, those guys the competition level is a step up. So you know he's the, the learning curve's a lot less steep for Derek Cooper coming into Texas this past January. We've already heard. We touched on it earlier in the video. The pass blocking, it's coming along quicker is not. You don't really have to worry about putting a true freshman back there because he's more advanced in that area of his game and we know he can be physical. He played linebacker in high school. You know, he, he has, he kind of has that, that to his game. And so he's certainly a different kind of. He's a different style than Hollywood Smothers and certainly Relique Brown. You know, he's probably give you more in between the tackles, but he also has, you know, just breakaway speed and can be a north south guy as well. I think he's going to be great. Not, not necessarily change of pace because I think, I think he's similar in style in ways to, to some others. But you know, they're going to see a true freshman running back come in and not really know what to expect, you know, as an opposing defensive staff. And I think he's going to make some DCs pay for it.

[Jeff Howe]

Yeah, C.J. i think it's for Derek Cooper, it's about being a complete running back because I think the thought would be, okay, maybe he's your short yardage guy early on, your inside zone guy, which I thought, I've talked about, I talked about going back to the spring. That could be his role. But cj, let's not just think he's automatically going to be the short yardage guy because yes, it was in the Big 12. It wasn't in the SEC. It was at Arizona State. But CJ, you've crunched the numbers. The numbers will tell you, the proven production will tell you that surprisingly, Relik Brown might be out of the gate. This team's best short yardage option.

[Hank South]

Yeah. And again, seeing him in person, you would say, really, you know, he, he doesn't look like the most physically imposing back on this roster. But the numbers from a year ago don't lie. And I know I've brought this up previously, but for folks who need a reminder or hearing it for the first time, I went through every single rush attempt from Raleigh Brown and Hollywood Smothers a year ago, as well as every Texas running back, which wasn't as fun. But when needing three yards or fewer to move the chains or to find the end zone, Raleigh Brown was 22 of 27. That's an 82% conversion clip. On the flip side, Hollywood Smothers about half of that. He's 41%. He was 5 of 12 Trey Wisner was pretty good at this year ago about 68 or 67. Excuse me, that was Arch Manning who was around 68. That was your most efficient running ball carrier if you will. A year ago was Arch Manning's legs now Raleigh Brown again not the most physically imposing but PET 202022 of 27 rate certainly stands out and something that at least lets me know he's proven it before when needing to get the tough one, two or three yards.

[Jeff Howe]

If you've got multiple options to kind of keep Arch and bubble wrap in the run game until you really need him, it's going to be really good for the long term health of this offense, the running game, the program and the ceiling of this team in 2020.

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[Jeff Howe]

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[Jeff Howe]

All right, I'll let Sark break down the third thing you need to know about the Texas running back room so far in camp. Where does the rest of the depth chart stand?

[Coach Sarkeesian]

You know, I think all of those guys have been better than they were before, which is a really good sign, you know. And, you know, we were watching tape just the other day and I was talking to Coach Jalook about that, that all these guys are better than they were in December, and that's a good sign for us. Michael Terry, James Simon, Ryan Niblett, like, very encouraged by them to go along with the new faces. Right. That are here. And so, hey, I've been here, knock on wood, where I've been sitting here. And it was right around this day where we lost two backs. Bang, bang. And next thing you know, you know, you're playing with guys who you weren't anticipating starting the season with. And so we're developing all those guys and we're pushing all those guys to be the best that they can become. And we're more comfortable today with that entire room than probably we've been in years past. And so I'm not saying the frontline guys are all Bijan, but point being, the depth of that room is, is. Is really encouraging right now.

[Jeff Howe]

CJ I think it's safe to say behind those top three backs, carries are going to be hard to come by. But I do like the fact that, hey, at least this room, the guy, the James Simons and Michael Terry's and guys like that further down the depth chart, at least it sounds like they're growing and making progress.

[Hank South]

Yeah, that's what you want to hear about for guys that are buried is that, hey, that there are at least steps taken to be closer to a reliable piece for this offense. And that's something that Jabarjaluk and Steve Sarkeesian have both said throughout the off season, is that they've seen noticeable increases when these guys are on the field. And what's interesting is, well, a year ago, Ryan Niblett had a very specified role with this offense, right? He was a pony package guy, went on the field, the ball wore not was going to go to him in some sort of trickery or reverse or screen or whatever it was just to get him involved. I do wonder if Michael Terry could be that role this year or have something similar to that. Of course, he was a guy 6 foot 3, 227, 228 pounds. He's a guy that has a much larger frame. We'll see about that. Physicality and that, that, that, that short distance ability, you know, that's something that Jabarjalu talked about in the spring, is needing to improve a little bit. But he has the hands, right. He has a wide receiver background. I know a lot of folks want to peg him into one of those tight end roles, but right now in that running back role, if he is on the field, I'm looking at the pony package, I'm looking at the passing game as the easiest way to manufacture touches for him. If he's someone that the staff green lights us saying yeah, we trust him without a shadow of a doubt in the role for this fall.

[Jeff Howe]

Hank, I know you watched Michael Terry III in high school with, with athletes, you know, non positional guys that don't really have a set position at his size, it can be really hard sometimes to find the right fit for those guys. But I think Hank, the most encouraging thing is obviously he started last year wide receiver, they moved him to running back. I'm just encouraged by it. I know people want a big time role for him, but to CJ's point, I'm just encouraged by the fact that he's taken to the position, Hank, and he seems to be doing the little things that he needs to do to get on the field on a consistent basis.

[Sports Analyst 1]

Yeah, absolutely, I would agree with you, Jeff. I mean just the fact that he hung around, I mean there, you know, with Chad Scott leaving, how the season ended last year, they go to the portal for more running backs. Anybody could have seen a guy like Michael Terry wanting to go somewhere else and try something different. He stuck around. Jabar Jalute personally recruited him to stay and yeah, I'm curious to see if he can carve out a role for himself. I know he's been having a pretty strong camp and I think he even scored a touchdown in some setting on Friday night as well. And you know, he's getting Steve Sarkeesian shout outs a couple times now that we've talked to him. You know, common sense would tell you that like he's your short yardage guy, that this giant guy you can just hand the ball to with needing 2 or 3 yards. But he offers so much more, you know, and I saw him in high school, a lot of the snaps he took at Alamo Heights were wildcat quarterback. I mean he was, he was pretty much doing everything for their offense in the game. He came to Texas as A wide receiver. He switched to running back. He's now gone through position coach changes. So you got to credit him for, for, for hanging around and seeing what can come of this. He's a really good kid. And, and I think he could, he could potentially, you know, see some, some higher usage this year. And I, I think, you know, in that pony package is probably the most intriguing with just how many different things they could do with it with his background as an athlete. James Simon, same thing. Coach's son, you know, he, he's, he's been in the program in a couple of years now. It would have been easy to go somewhere else. He hung around. You know, obviously we're not going to see a lot of him this year, but that just goes to show how good of depth you have. I think Steve Sarkeesian even said in that clip, you know, he feels better about this room than he has any running back room in the past few years. And that's including some, obviously a lot of talented running backs at Texas in the last few years. So curious to see, you know, but they do have depth outside those top three and, and that'll benefit them, you know, potential 17 game stretch.

[Hank South]

Yeah.

[Jeff Howe]

Jet Walker also in that room. We'll see what kind of role he has as a true freshman. I was really encouraged. I don't know if it's me grasping at straws or there was something there. But maybe the most impressive thing we've seen Michael Terry do is there was a fourth down in the Citrus bowl where he's a running back and he steps up and picks up a blitz cleanly. So at least he's willing to, to stick his face in there and be physical and again, do the little things. CJ to wrap this all up. When you look at the running back position at Texas, obviously I want to see more two back stuff from Sark because I think he really gets into his bag when he's doing that. You need, to Hank's point, you need depth, you need quality depth, but you need guys that you can trust. And the good news is CJ to tie this all together. Yeah, the pony package could be a pretty significant part of this offense because you've at least got three. Ryan. Four if you count Ryan. Niblet guys that you can trust to put on the field right now together in that backfield. If you went and played a game.

[Hank South]

I think the biggest thing this year is that when one body is on the field, it's not predictable. Right. That was something that Texas certainly fell victim to over the last two years where given who was on the field at the running back spot, you knew one or two things was going to happen and one or two things probably was certainly not going to happen. Right? So Texas is versatile in that regard this year. And Jeff, I'm absolutely with you. The pony package should be something that Texas looks into more this year because I do think with Hollywood smothers, with Raleigh Brown up at the top, your past catching ability is there. Both guys were right around 40 targets a year ago, north of 30 receptions for each. They were utilized in that field. Michael Terry has that in his back pocket. Obviously, Ryan Niblett's been used in that, that regard as well in the past. The big question is, well, when Derek Cooper's on the field, what do, what do his hands look like in fall camp? So far, I think we'd all say, hey, it looks, it checks the box, right? It looks like he could be a reliable piece for the Longhorns. And then you get to utilize the outside zone. We'll see what kind of push Texas gets up front. But I know more than anything, the bot the backs in the backfield right now are able to create misses in the second level a little bit easier than what this group of backs did yet last year and the year before.

[Jeff Howe]

Definitely the arrow seems to be pointing up for Texas in the Backfield. All right, C.J. hank, thank you guys for the time, the knowledge, the intel, the expertise. As always, big thank you to Matthew behind the Scenes for producing it. Thank you to Prize Picks and Poncho for sponsoring this edition of On Texas Football. If you're not a member [e-mail] now is the time to get over to the site and join in on the fun new members three doll. For your first three months of access over on Texas Football.com we've got staff chats going on breaking news. We've got practice coverage, we've got insider intel recruiting information. Anything going on the 40 acres. We're talking about it over on Texas Football.com and again, new members $3 is all it takes for your first three months of access at on Texas Football.com so make sure you take advantage of this limited time offer. It will not last forever. Make sure that you like this video. Make sure you're subscribed to the on Texas Football YouTube channel and make sure you've got your notifications set. That way, anytime we or drop a new video, you're not missing any of our Longhorn coverage or breaking news for C.J. for Hank for Matthew for the entire on Texas football staff, I'm Jeff Howell. Thank you so much for watching and listening. And until next time.

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[Jeff Howe]

Hi, welcome.